Tag: percentage

An insurance deductible is the sum of cash you must pay out of your own pocket for an insurance claim prior to the insurance company starting to pay on the claim. It’s typically stated in the policy as a fixed dollar amount, rather than a percentage. As a general rule, insurance deductibles and insurance premiums are inversely related. That is, the higher the insurance deductible, the lower the insurance premium. And of course, vice versa.

For example, a typical automobile insurance policy may have a deductible of $500. What this means if the insured has an automobile accident, you have to pay for the cost of repairs up to $500. Therefore, if the total car repair costs are $1,200, you will have to pay $500 (your deductible) and your insurance company will pay $700. Once you have paid the $500, you are said to have met the deductible.

Deductibles are usually defined per incident or per year. They can also vary depending on the origin of the claim. For instance, the same insurance policy may have varying deductibles when the loss arises from fire, theft, or natural disaster.

Based upon the insurance company and policy, an insurance deductible can be raised or lowered depending on how risk the insured is willing to assume. Insurance deductibles typically work the same whether the policy is for the home, car, or medical.

A policy with an exceptionally low premium will typically have an exceptional high insurance deductible. The key is finding the right balance for you when buying an insurance policy. A too high deductible can lead you into a financial bind should you find you need a claim. Additionally, a too high of a deductible on a car that has limited value may not make the most financial sense. On the other hand, a too low deductible can result in you overpaying in premiums.

It is a good idea to always have savings set aside in the amount of at least the size of your deductible, should you have to make a claim in the future.

If you own a home, it’s important to compare home insurance quotes to make sure you get sufficient coverage for both the home itself and its contents. Without adequate coverage, you could be looking at thousands of dollars of repair or replacement costs in the event of a burglary, fire or flood. What follows are three tips to bear in mind when comparing homeowners insurance quotes for the possessions inside your home.

Before you compare home insurance quotes, make a proper assessment of the value of your possessions. Usually, homeowners policies insure the contents of your home at a percentage of your home’s value – but this doesn’t always reflect an accurate value. To avoid being underinsured or paying premiums that are too high, make a list of your possessions and write down realistic replacement costs.

If you own special collections, art or antiques, have them appraised by a certified appraiser. Make sure to keep all paperwork pertaining to your collections, as well as the appraisal certificate, and read the fine print about collections when you compare home insurance quotes. In some cases, you may have to purchase separate insurance for valuables in order to cover them for the replacement value.

Always read homeowners insurance quotes carefully to find out what’s covered, so you’re not in for a nasty surprise in the event that you have to file a claim. Most homeowners policies cover damages due to burglary, fire, and windstorm, but not damages caused by lack of maintenance to the home, floods or named storms.